CBCA exam-day guide
CBCA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original (not a photocopy) of a valid photo ID. The name must match your registration record. Confirm the provider's exact accepted ID types and any secondary-ID requirement before exam day.
Appointment confirmation and candidate/registration number
Have the confirmation email or scheduling record accessible (printed or on a device you will not be using during the exam). If testing remotely, keep it off-screen at the start of the proctored session.
Test-delivery login credentials
Know your username/password for the exam platform and confirm the password has not expired. For remote delivery, complete any required identity verification or account setup in advance.
Completed system and equipment check
For remote-proctored delivery: run the provider's compatibility test, confirm camera, microphone and speakers work, install any required secure browser or proctoring software, and have a charger plugged in. Confirm the platform requirements with the provider.
A quiet, private, well-lit room
No other people, no interruptions, desk cleared of everything except items the provider explicitly permits. Confirm whether a 360-degree room scan will be requested at check-in.
Stable internet plus a backup plan
Wired or strong Wi-Fi; have a phone hotspot or an alternate device ready in case of failure. Know the provider's procedure for technical interruptions during the exam.
Confirm allowed and prohibited materials
Most credentialing exams are closed-book: notes, phones, smart watches, second monitors and scratch paper are commonly prohibited. Read the provider's candidate handbook for the definitive list rather than assuming.
Confirm the break policy
Check in advance whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are permitted, whether the clock keeps running, and what you may do (or not do) while away from the screen.
Verify appointment time and time zone
Re-check the confirmed start time in your local time zone and, for in-person testing, the test-centre address, arrival window and parking or transit plan.
Know the exam blueprint and format
Review the published domains/weightings, the number of questions and the time allowance so you can pace yourself. Confirm the current format from the provider's handbook.
Plan your time budget
Work out an approximate minutes-per-question allowance (total time divided by number of items) and identify the halfway and 15-minutes-remaining checkpoints so you can adjust pace.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge all devices, prepare your ID and confirmation in one place, and prioritise sleep over last-minute cramming.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and testing rules end to end. Confirm delivery method (test centre vs remote proctoring), appointment time and time zone, and any equipment or ID requirements. Run the full system/compatibility check now so problems can be fixed.
Switch from learning to consolidating: review your summary notes and the domains where you scored weakest. Do not start new material. Take one timed practice set under exam conditions to rehearse pacing.
Prepare the physical environment: clear the desk, test the lighting and camera position, check internet stability, and arrange a backup connection. For in-person testing, confirm the route, travel time and arrival instructions.
Light review only: skim key frameworks, terminology and your own error log. Pack ID, confirmation and any permitted items. Charge devices and confirm the proctoring or secure-browser software launches correctly. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat something substantial and hydrate. Log in or arrive early, as advised by the provider, to allow time for identity checks and room scans. Close all other applications on the machine, silence phones and put them out of reach.
Read the full question and all options before answering, including 'which is LEAST/NOT' wording. Answer confident items first, flag uncertain ones and return to them; never leave a question blank if the format has no penalty for guessing (confirm with the provider).
Check the clock at your planned checkpoints. If you are behind pace, shorten the time spent on flagged items rather than rushing everything. If breaks are permitted, take one to reset rather than pushing through fatigue.
Note how results are delivered and when, plus the retake or appeal policy, from the provider's handbook. Do not post exam content online - most programmes treat this as a confidentiality breach.
Rules to check
Identity: the name on your ID must match your registration. If it does not, contact the provider before exam day; the exact correction policy must be confirmed with the provider.
Closed-book conduct: unless the provider explicitly lists an item as permitted, assume it is prohibited. Notes, phones, smart watches, additional screens and unapproved scratch paper are typically treated as misconduct, which can void your result.
Proctor instructions are binding: follow all check-in steps, room scans and requests. If a proctor asks you to do something that seems to contradict the handbook, ask before acting, since non-compliance may end the session.
Environment and interruptions: you are responsible for a private, distraction-free space. Other people entering the room, being called away, or reading questions aloud can invalidate a remote session.
Breaks: confirm in advance whether breaks exist, whether the timer keeps running, and what you may access while away. Do not assume a break pauses the clock.
Scoring: many credentialing exams report a scaled score against a passing standard set by a panel rather than a simple percentage of correct answers. The exact scale, passing score and any penalty for guessing must be confirmed with the provider.
Technical failure: know the provider's incident procedure before you start. If the session drops, note the time, do not attempt unauthorised re-entry, and contact support using the channel named in the handbook.
Confidentiality: exam content is proprietary. Reproducing, discussing or sharing questions or answers after the exam typically breaches the candidate agreement and can lead to revocation of the credential.